Although they never had a national hit record, The Sonics are often credited with fueling the punk movement of the 1970's. They are best known today for their hits "Psycho", "The Witch", and "Strychnine".
In 1960, Lakewood resident Andy Parypa first heard The Wailers perform, and was in awe. His younger brothers, Larry and Jerry, also inspired by The Wailers, it seems, began playing "Louie, Louie" with some of their middle school friends in the Parypa home. Andy soon joined them on bass guitar, and Jerry was replaced on saxophone by Tony Mabin.
When the group was asked to play at their classmate's birthday party, they named themselves The Sonics after the sonic booms from the nearby Lewis-McChord Air Base that had been annoying their entire neighborhood. The band began playing gigs regularly, and soon changed up the lineup, forming the best-known crew composed of guitarist Larry Parypa, bassist Andy Parypa, vocalist/keyboardist Gerry Roslie, saxophonist Rob Lind, and drummer Bob Bennett. The group recorded 4 tracks on a tape in the Parypa living room and soon began playing larger venues.
The group began writing original material, and Andy asked Buck Ormsby of Etiquette Records to consider offering them a recording deal. When Ormbsy heard the incomplete version of "The Witch", he was instantly impressed and signed the group to his label. In 1964,"The Witch" was released on 45 and was hugely popular. As popular as it was, the radio stations refused to play it during most hours of the day due to its ferocious style. This crippled the single's success significantly.
In 1965, the group released its first LP as well as a new 45, both of which were very popular. Another LP ensued, and soon other groups were incorporating The Sonics' style and songs into their own set lists. The Sonics became an opening act for several well-known groups, and were receiving numerous invitations to perform on TV programs. The band hoped that performing on TV would help gain them a national hit, but Etiquette didn't want to pay for the traveling costs.
Frustrated with Etiquette, the group moved to Seattle's Jerden label and released a new LP. The impending doom of the draft created a dark cloud over the group's head, causing many of them to return to college. Roslie married and stormed off of the stage during a gig, never to return. Bennett joined Merrilee and the Turnabouts. Lind became a fighter pilot in Vietnam. Larry Parypa left in early 1968, and Andy struggled to keep the group going, adding a singer named Jim Brady. Finally discouraged, he regrettably sold the band's van and name to Brady.
As Jim Brady and the Sonics played shows and recorded singles, the original members became teachers, pilots, and insurance salesmen among other careers. A few of them participated in musical excursions throughout the 70's and 80's.
In the mid-2000's, Larry, along with some of the old group members and friends, began gathering at his home for informal jam sessions. Many of them had not played in groups for several years and found it to be great fun. In 2007, The Sonics decided to re-form, rounding up all of the members from the most well-known lineup as was possible. Roslie, though reluctant at first, agreed to join his old band members. After Bennett and Andy both declined for job-related reasons, bassist Don Willhelm and drummer Ricky Lynn Johnson were brought in, creating yet another Sonics lineup that performs to this day.
In 1960, Lakewood resident Andy Parypa first heard The Wailers perform, and was in awe. His younger brothers, Larry and Jerry, also inspired by The Wailers, it seems, began playing "Louie, Louie" with some of their middle school friends in the Parypa home. Andy soon joined them on bass guitar, and Jerry was replaced on saxophone by Tony Mabin.
When the group was asked to play at their classmate's birthday party, they named themselves The Sonics after the sonic booms from the nearby Lewis-McChord Air Base that had been annoying their entire neighborhood. The band began playing gigs regularly, and soon changed up the lineup, forming the best-known crew composed of guitarist Larry Parypa, bassist Andy Parypa, vocalist/keyboardist Gerry Roslie, saxophonist Rob Lind, and drummer Bob Bennett. The group recorded 4 tracks on a tape in the Parypa living room and soon began playing larger venues.
The group began writing original material, and Andy asked Buck Ormsby of Etiquette Records to consider offering them a recording deal. When Ormbsy heard the incomplete version of "The Witch", he was instantly impressed and signed the group to his label. In 1964,"The Witch" was released on 45 and was hugely popular. As popular as it was, the radio stations refused to play it during most hours of the day due to its ferocious style. This crippled the single's success significantly.
In 1965, the group released its first LP as well as a new 45, both of which were very popular. Another LP ensued, and soon other groups were incorporating The Sonics' style and songs into their own set lists. The Sonics became an opening act for several well-known groups, and were receiving numerous invitations to perform on TV programs. The band hoped that performing on TV would help gain them a national hit, but Etiquette didn't want to pay for the traveling costs.
Frustrated with Etiquette, the group moved to Seattle's Jerden label and released a new LP. The impending doom of the draft created a dark cloud over the group's head, causing many of them to return to college. Roslie married and stormed off of the stage during a gig, never to return. Bennett joined Merrilee and the Turnabouts. Lind became a fighter pilot in Vietnam. Larry Parypa left in early 1968, and Andy struggled to keep the group going, adding a singer named Jim Brady. Finally discouraged, he regrettably sold the band's van and name to Brady.
As Jim Brady and the Sonics played shows and recorded singles, the original members became teachers, pilots, and insurance salesmen among other careers. A few of them participated in musical excursions throughout the 70's and 80's.
In the mid-2000's, Larry, along with some of the old group members and friends, began gathering at his home for informal jam sessions. Many of them had not played in groups for several years and found it to be great fun. In 2007, The Sonics decided to re-form, rounding up all of the members from the most well-known lineup as was possible. Roslie, though reluctant at first, agreed to join his old band members. After Bennett and Andy both declined for job-related reasons, bassist Don Willhelm and drummer Ricky Lynn Johnson were brought in, creating yet another Sonics lineup that performs to this day.
* Special thanks to Sam Carlson of pnwbands.com for providing important information for this page.